Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-07-09

Before prohibition, sometimes as man.
as three families would live in one hous,
| The heads of those families now no
spending their money for drink are eacl
able to rent house, thus using three
instead of one.
Working men who formerly spent {
great part oftheir money for liquor. now
spend it in food and clothes for thei,
families. The retail grocery men sell
more goods and collect their bills bet.
ter than ever before. Thus they are
more able to settle with the wholesale
men.
A perceptiable increase has been
noticed in the number of people who
ride in the street cars. According to
the coal dealers many people bought coal
and stored itaway last winter who had
never done so before. Others who had
been accustomed to buying two or three
tons on time, this last winter bought
seven or cight and paid cash for it. A
leading proprietor of a millinery store
said he. .hadsold morehats and bonnetts to
laboring men for their wives and daugh-
ters, than in the history ofhis business.
Contractors say their men do better
work, and on Saturday evenings, when
they receive their weeks wages, spend
the same for -four, hams, dry goods. or
other necessary thing sfor their families.
Thus they are in better spirits,
have more hope, and are not inclined TO
strike and growl about higher wages.
Attendance upon the public schools
has increased. The superintendent of
public instruction said in his report to
the board Of education. made January
1st, 1887:
During the past year it has become a
subject Of remark by teachers in the
schools and by visitors. that the children
were more tidy, were better dressed,
were better shod, and presented neater
appearance than ever before. Less
trouble has been experienced in having
purchased books requifed by rules, fewer
children have been Withdrawn to aid in
supporting the family, the higher class
es in the grammar schools have been
promoted to the higher schools, both
male and female, than ever in the his
tory of the schools. All these iudica-
tions point to the increased prosperity
of the city, and to the growing interest
in the cause of education on the part of
the people"
There has been marked increase in
attendance upon the Sunday schools of
the city This is especially noticeable
among the suburban churches. Many
children have started to Sunday Schools
who were not able to attend for want Of
proper clothing. Attendance upon the
different churches is far better. From
fifteen hundred to two thousand people
have joined the various churches of the
city during the year.
The determination on the part of the
people to prohibit the liquor traffic, has
a disposition to do away with
other evils. The laws against gambling
are rigidly enforced. A considerable
stock ofgamblers' tools gathered togeth-
sr by the police for several years past
was recently used for the purpose of
large bonfire on one Of the un-
occupied squares Of the city. The city
council has refused longer to grant
license to bucket shops, thus putting the
seal of condemnation upon the trad e in
futures ofall kinds.
All these reforms have decided ten
dency to diminish crime. Two weeks
were necessary formerly to get through
with the criminal docket. During the
present year it was closed out in two days.
The chain gangis almost left with Moth
but the chains and the balls. The gang
part would not be large enough to work
the public roads of TIE county were it
not augmented by fresh supplies from
the surrounding counties. The city
government is in the hands of our best
citizens.
The majority in this county in favor
of prohibition was only 285. Such a
change has taken place in public senti-
ment, however, that there is hardly
respectable anti-prohibitionist in the
city who fayors a return to barrooms,
There are some.who would prefer high
license, or its sale by the gallon, but it
is a remarkable fact that there is no
opposition to have the saloon opened
again. The barroom has gone from
Atlanta forever, and the people with
remarkable unamity say amen! There is
very little drinking in the city. There